Russia’s President Vladimir Putin makes his annual New Year address to the nation in Moscow, Russia – days later Russia announced it would be moving out of Syria

General Valery Gerasimov said a group of ships lead by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier would be first to leave.

He told the TASS news agency yesterday: “In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, (President) Vladimir Putin, the Russian Defence Ministry is beginning to reduce its armed forces deployment in Syria.”